Hawks Defense No Shows Again vs the Pacers and Drops Atlanta to 15-22

I am starting to think that the Pacers have the Hawks number this season.

Despite missing star point guard Tyrese Haliburton, Indiana had no problem against the Hawks and the worst defense in the NBA. Atlanta could not stop the NBA's No. 1 offense and for the second straight Friday night, the Pacers took care of the Hawks with ease.

The Hawks came into this game healthier than when they played the 76ers on Wednesday night. Clint Capela and Garrison Matthews were cleared to play after missing Wednesday's game, but neither player was able to change the Hawks fortunes vs Indiana.

Atlanta had an opportunity to get their second straight win against a team missing its best player (Philadelphia was without Joel Embiid on Wednesday), but they completely missed out on that chance. With games against the Wizards and Spurs (two of the worst teams in the NBA), there was at least a small chance the Hawks could have been on a four-game winning streak.

Guess not.

Trae Young gave arguably his worst performance of the season against one of the lowest-rated defenses in the NBA and that assured the Hawks had no chance. The defense for Atlanta is at the point where if Young is not on his game (which he usually is), then you can usually count on a loss for them.

The Hawks went with their usual starting lineup tonight. Young, Murray, Saddiq Bey, Jalen Johnson, and Clint Capela. Capela and Young were on the injury report before the game and listed as probable, but they were both ruled in before tip-off.

Indiana went with Aaron Nesmith, Bruce Brown, Andrew Nembhard, Jalen Smith, and Myles Turner.

The first quarter was not terrible for the Hawks offense, but the defense was horrible. Atlanta was not good at the point of attack and could not contest shots at the rim and the Pacers feasted in the paint vs Atlanta.

There were some good moments in the first quarter. After the Pacers went up 24-16, Bogdan Bogdanovic hit a three, then Murray hit a three, and then Trent Forrest got a steal and layup to tie the game. Indiana led 34-30 after the first and it looked like a high-scoring game between two of the NBA's best offenses was about to occur.

Indiana shot an unbelievable 84.2% from the field and was 2-2 from three in the first quarter.

Quin Snyder called a timeout after a 7-0 run from the Pacers pushed the lead to 11. The defense got better some after the Hawks started to employ more of a drop coverage look, but it was not enough. Indiana led 68-62 at the end of the first half.

Atlanta's numbers were not terrible on offense in the first half. They shot 46% from the field and 38.9% from three, but the defense was another issue entirely.

Indiana was able to shoot 67.4% from the field and 50% from three. The Pacers were doing anything they wanted and it was a balanced effort with Haliburton sidelined. Mathurin had 12 at the half and Nesmith had 10. 48 of Indiana's 68 points came in the paint.

Murray led the way for the Hawks in the first half with 14 points, Bey had 13, and Jalen Johnson had 12.

Indiana outscored Atlanta 31-19 in the third quarter and led by 18 going into the final quarter. The Hawks could not get close and pulled their starters in the fourth quarter.

It is never a good sign for the Hawks when Young has just 13 points, six assists, and is a -19 when on the court.

Indiana shot over 60% from the field and from three, a completely unacceptable number. The Pacers had a true shooting percentage of 74.8% and were scoring 1.24 points per possession. 76 of the Pacer's points came in the paint. Eight players on Indiana scored in double figures.

Atlanta shot 44.9% from the field and 36.7% from three. Murray led the way with 29 points, the only player to score over 20.

Atlanta is back on the floor tomorrow at home vs the Wizards. Tip-off is set for 7:30.

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